Biography

This Irish boy band, originally known as Westside, emerged in the late 90s as the highly successful protégés of Ronan Keating of Boyzone. The three founding members, Kian Egan (Cian John Francis Egan, 29 April 1980, Sligo, County Sligo, Eire), Shane Filan (b. 5 July 1979, Sligo, County Sligo, Eire) and Mark Feehily (b. Marcus Michael Patrick Feehily, 28 May 1980, Sligo, County Sligo, Eire), came together in a local Sligo production of Grease. They formed IOYou with three fellow actors after friends encouraged them to continue singing, and began performing cover versions in local clubs. A demo tape of a track written by Filan and Feehily, Together Girl Forever, found its way to Boyzone manager Louis Walsh. Suitably impressed, Walsh hired them to support US boy band Backstreet Boys when they visited Dublin. A change of line-up ensued, with original members Derek Lacey, Graham Keighron and Michael Garrett making way for ex-soccer player Nicky...